ACTAge

The ACTAge project addresses fragmented elderly care by promoting active and healthy ageing through multidisciplinary spaces and policies. By shifting from a needs-based to a rights-based approach, ACTAge ensures the elderly's entitlement to equal opportunities and treatment.

In response to common European challenges related to ageing populations, ACTAge involves partners like the Directorate General for the Elderly and Active Participation of the Government of the Canary Islands, City of Vila Nova de Cerveira (Portugal), Ministry of Labor and Social Solidarity (Romania), Regional Agency for the Development of West Region (Hungary), City of Heerenveen (Netherlands), City of Storfors (Sweden), Centre for the Development of the East Planning Region (North Macedonia), City of Bruges (Belgium), Finpiemonte (Italy) and European Social Fund Agency (Lithuania).

ACTAge promotes the Positive Health approach, coined by the Institute of Positive Health of the Netherlands, viewing health holistically, including physical, emotional, and social dimensions. The project emphasizes resilience, sense of purpose, meaningfulness, and self-management, creating environments where elderly individuals can thrive and feel valued. Additionally, ACTAge incorporates the Social Outcome Contracting innovative model, linking funding to measurable outcomes, ensuring efficient resource use, continuous quality improvement, and sustainable care services.

The overarching objective of ACTAge is to shift elderly care policies integrating healthcare, social support, recreation, sports, and psychological services. Through proactive health assessments, preventive interventions and interdisciplinary collaboration, the project aims to reduce pressure on acute care services, lower healthcare costs and foster inclusive communities. Thus, ACTAge will provide policymakers with a framework for integrated policies that ensure seniors enjoy equal opportunities and lead dignified, active, and meaningful lives.